Nournews: Despite what the article describes as an organized effort by the U.S. Department of Defense to conceal military casualties in the war with Iran, newly released Pentagon documents reportedly put the number of American casualties in the first phase of the war at at least 400 killed and wounded, including 17 serious injuries.
According to the report, the casualties included 64 officers, two generals, and nearly one-third of the reserve forces. Brain injuries were the most common type of injury, affecting at least 170 soldiers. The article argues that the Pentagon also reported lower casualty figures during the Vietnam and Afghanistan wars because it believed that downplaying losses would help keep troops on the battlefield and prevent a decline in morale.
The article presents several reasons for the increase in U.S. military casualties during the war with Iran.
1. The large number of U.S. military bases in West Asia
One of the main reasons for Iran's success, according to the article, is the large number and wide distribution of U.S. military bases in West Asia, especially in the Persian Gulf region. These bases are considered part of America's national assets, and attacks on them are viewed as attacks on U.S. national interests. The United States has dozens of military bases and intelligence facilities in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Their wide geographic spread gave Iran many options for targeting U.S. forces. At the same time, the article argues that this forced the United States to divide its defensive capabilities across many locations, making it difficult to protect all of its military assets even with advanced defense systems.
2. Relocating troops did not reduce casualties
After repeated attacks on its bases in the Persian Gulf, the Pentagon moved many of its troops to more distant locations, including Jordan and Syria, in an effort to reduce casualties. Jordan, in particular, became one of the main centers for U.S. forces. However, the article claims that this strategy failed. It says that, according to U.S. officials, including President Trump, the highest number of American casualties occurred in Jordan. It also states that the Pentagon has never released casualty figures from the al-Tanf base in Syria. The report argues that the concentration of U.S. forces in Jordan has increased the country's military importance for Iran, making it a major target. Military experts, according to the article, believe that damage to several U.S. helicopters and injuries to dozens of American troops in Jordan have not been made public.
3. A longer war increased pressure on U.S. forces
The article says U.S. troops were initially told that victory would come within a week and that Iran would accept defeat. Instead, the war continued for months, placing heavy pressure on both combat and support forces. It claims that troop morale declined sharply, with some soldiers deserting or taking their own lives, while many others experienced severe psychological stress. According to the article, this situation is likely to continue as long as the war lasts and the risk of attack remains high.
The article further argues that the United States would need tens of thousands of additional troops to continue its military campaign and that, if a ground operation began, those forces would become potential targets for Iran's armed forces. It also claims that most U.S. bases are within range of Iranian drones and missiles and that, under such conditions, even advanced air defense systems would have little time to intercept incoming projectiles. Citing military experts, the article concludes that no missile defense system can intercept every target and claims that Iran's high-speed, highly maneuverable missiles have been able to penetrate many U.S. air defense systems, causing significant damage to American military equipment and personnel.